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Policing Police Crime: The Case of Criminals in the Norwegian Police

NCJ Number
229118
Journal
International Journal of Police Science & Management Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 2009 Pages: 429-441
Author(s)
Petter Gottschalk
Date Published
2009
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article provides information on police "crime" (criminal laws broken by officers while on duty), using examples from Norway and other countries, with attention to the kind of knowledge that must be developed in order to detect, investigate, and successfully prosecute police crime.
Abstract
The examples of police crime provided show that it is enabled by the special powers given to police officers in enforcing the law. While on duty, officers have ample opportunity and enticement to commit crime, because they have the knowledge and authority to manipulate and control the environments in which they work. Police officers may be drawn to commit crime for various reasons because they perceive a low risk for detection or collection of evidence necessary to prove in a court of law that they committed a crime. This article introduces the knowledge-management perspective as a key concept in policing the police. By identifying knowledge categories and knowledge levels, knowledge management can enable organizations such as the British Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the New York City Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB), and the Norwegian Bureau to detect and effectively investigate police crime. This article argues that these organizations can develop into "knowledge organizations," and their employees can develop into "knowledge workers." This article outlines 21 areas of knowledge that must be developed in policing police crime. Based on the table of knowledge categories outlined, each intelligence unit and investigation unit must identify and fill in the table for knowledge need. The development of such knowledge enables these units not only to detect police crime, but also to collect the evidence needed to link crime to specific officers. Such knowledge also enables these units to advise legislative bodies on law that deals specifically with police-related crime. 3 tables and 29 references